Four ‘drug traders’ killed in ‘gunfights’

Four suspected drug traders were killed in separate incidents of "gunfight" in Munshiganj, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar districts early Wednesday.

In Munshiganj, a suspected drug dealer was killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) under Tongibari Upazila.

The deceased was identified as Abul Hussain Sheikh, 49, son of late Nazim Uddin Sheikh, hailing from upazila's Kunderbazar area.

Confirming the information, Rab-11 Deputy Commander Major Ashik Billal said: “Being tipped-off, a team of Rab conducted a drive in the area to capture listed drug dealers. Sensing the law enforcers’ presence, the drug dealers opened fire on them, prompting retaliation that triggered a gunfight.”

“After exchanging fire, bullet-hit drug peddler Abul Hussain was rescued while his other cohorts managed to escape the spot. Doctors declared him dead when he was sent to Tongibari Upazila Health Complex,” he added.

Abul was accused in 18 cases filed under the Narcotics Control Act, according to the claim of Rab.

In Sylhet, suspected drug trader Shahid Mia was killed in a reported gunfight with Rab under Dakshin Surma upazila early Wednesday.

“Tipped-off, a team of Rab conducted a drive in the Srirampur area of the upazila to capture listed drug dealers. Sensing the presence of the Rab, the drug dealers opened fire on them, prompting retaliation that triggered a gunfight," according to the Rab official.

"Rab recovered a bullet-hit body from the spot and sent it to MAG Osmani Medical College morgue for the autopsy," Rab official added.

Rab claimed to have recovered a pistol and Yaba tablets from the spot.

Shahid was accused in several cases including drug dealing, according to the sources of Rab.

In Cox’s Bazar, two drug peddlers were killed in what police claimed was a gunfight between two groups of drug peddlers in Teknaf upazila on Wednesday morning.

Confirming the news, Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge Pradip Kumar Das said: "On information that two groups of “drug peddlers” were engaged in a “gunfight” on Marine Drive, a team of police rushed there and found two bullet-hit bodies on the spot."

"The bodies are sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy," he added.